William William Shakespeare Shakespeare

and and Romeo and Romeo and

JulietJuliet(A Brief Introduction)(A Brief Introduction)

Who is Who is Shakespeare?Shakespeare? An English poet and playwright

widely regarded as the greatest writer of the English language, and the world's preeminent dramatist

Born April 26, 1564 Died April 23, 1616

Spent most of his life in London, England

AKA “The Bard of Avon” Composed, plays (37 known),

sonnets (154 known) and other poems

Who is Who is Shakespeare?Shakespeare? William Shakespeare married Anne

Hathaway when he was 16 or 17. She was 26 and three months pregnant.

The couple had three children:Susanna, christened on May 26th, 1583Twins, Hamnet and Judith, in January,

1585(Hamnet Shakespeare died of an unknown cause on

August 11, 1596, at the age of eleven) Shakespeare's family lived in Stratford-upon-

Avon, while Shakespeare spent most of his time in London, England.

Where?Where?

Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s WritingWriting

Shakespeare’s writing can be dividedinto two time periods:

1592- 1603: Elizabethan Period- Wrotemostly comedies and histories.

1603- 1612: Jacobean Period- Wrotemostly tragedies and romances.

1585- 1592- “The Lost Years” - Scholars have no real idea where Shakespeare was or what he was doing.

Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s PlaysPlays

Types of Shakespearean Drama: Tragedy -- In general, tragedy involves the

ruinof the leading characters.

Comedy -- is lighter drama in which the leadingcharacters overcome the difficulties whichtemporarily beset them. Usually ends inmarriage.

History

The Globe The Globe TheatreTheatre

The Globe Theatre was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, but was later destroyed: first by fire, then by Puritans who believed theater was sinful

A modern reconstruction of the Globe,named "Shakespeare's Globe", opened in1997

the Theaterthe Theater the Globe theatre held around 1,500 the Globe theatre held around 1,500

people, most in the “pit” near the stage people, most in the “pit” near the stage (these people were called “groundlings”)(these people were called “groundlings”)

Noble men and women sat in the balconies Noble men and women sat in the balconies or on the stage itselfor on the stage itself

Plays were held in the afternoon, as there Plays were held in the afternoon, as there was no artificial lightingwas no artificial lighting

All actors were men/boysAll actors were men/boys Within the Globe, there were smoke Within the Globe, there were smoke

effects, fireworks (for dramatic battle effects, fireworks (for dramatic battle scenes), trap-doors and rigging which scenes), trap-doors and rigging which allowed for flying entrances. allowed for flying entrances.

Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s LanguageLanguage

Shakespeare’s plays are written in Early Modern English, which can be difficult to read.

The pronouns usage is especiallydifferent. Some examples include:

thou = youthee/ ye = youthy/ thine = your/ yours

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet Shakespeare probably wrote Romeo and

Juliet in 1594 Romeo and Juliet was based on the life of

two real lovers who both died for each other and lived in Verona, Italy in 1303. Both the Capulets and Montagues existed in Verona at this time and Shakespeare is reckoned to have discovered this tragic love story in Arthur Brooke's 1562 poem entitled "The Tragical Historye of Romeus and Juliet"

One of Shakespeare's most-produced plays and a mainstay of the English stage

Romeo and JulietRomeo and JulietMost of the action of Romeo and

Juliet takes places in Verona, Italy.

Famous LinesFamous Lines But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun

Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

What's in an name? That which we call a roseBy any other name would smell as sweet.

Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow,That I shall say good night till it be morrow

A plague on both your houses!

O, I am fortunes fool!

For never was a story of more woeThan this of Juliet and her Romeo

Verona today….Verona today…. the town of Verona, Italy has honored the play by

marking “Juliet’s Balcony,” an attraction popular to romantics and Shakespeare enthusiasts

R&J in FilmR&J in FilmThe two most well-known film

adaptations are those of Franco Zeffirelli and Baz

Luhrmann

Fun factsFun facts Moons of the planet Uranus are named Moons of the planet Uranus are named

after characters in Shakespeare's playsafter characters in Shakespeare's plays The words "assassination“ and "bump" The words "assassination“ and "bump"

were invented by Shakespeare. If you say were invented by Shakespeare. If you say "laugh it off,“ or ““all's well that ends "laugh it off,“ or ““all's well that ends well", you are also quoting Shakespeare. well", you are also quoting Shakespeare.

The play “The West Side Story” is based The play “The West Side Story” is based on Romeo and Julieton Romeo and Juliet

Films inspired by Shakespeare’s plays Films inspired by Shakespeare’s plays include “O,” “Ten Things I Hate About include “O,” “Ten Things I Hate About You,” and “Romeo Must Die”You,” and “Romeo Must Die”

ShakespeShakespearean arean InsultsInsults

Combine one word from each column to create your own Shakespearean insult.